Feed Stock Flexibility – Maximizing Ethane in Existing Liquids Crackers

Recent advances in the shale gas recovery technology have resulted in a shift in ethylene plant feedstock economics such that many producers cracking liquid feedstocks are shifting to lighter feeds such as ethane. Producers that are already cracking ethane and/or propane and butane feeds have inherent advantages since their plants require minimal and or no modifications. However, plants which are configured for heavier liquid feed stocks such as naphtha or gas oil have to reconsider the impact to their units when processing ethane. This presentation describes the benefits and operating changes/ modifications required to accomplish/increase feed stock flexibility.

The main sections of the ethylene plant will be discussed to elaborate the impact of ethane cracking and considerations to enable ethane cracking. These sections will include but not limited to furnaces, quench, cracked gas compressor, demethanizer/ chilling train, ethylene fractionator, expander/recompressor and ethylene & propylene compressors.